December 03 2012 Philippine Suertres/Swertres Tips and Lotto Results

MANILA, Philippines – National and local government authorities have started preparing as early as last weekend for typhoon "Pablo" in hopes of preventing a similar devastation brought by tropical storm "Sendong" last year.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has placed its operations on red alert status as Pablo, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday, nears land.

Caraga region Office of Civil Defense (OCD) chief Amado Posa said some 2,000 families living in islands in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur have already been brought to the mainland in anticipation of the typhoon, forecast to be the strongest to hit Philippine landmass this year.

State weather bureau PAGASA forecasts Pablo to make landfall in Surigao area Tuesday morning.

With Pablo's expected track, disaster management officials of Caraga region are expected to meet today to make preparations for the approaching typhoon.

Hinatuan Mayor Candelario Viola has also ordered the suspension of all classes in his town since the schools will be turned into evacuation centers.

Some residents in Cagayan de Oro, the province which suffered the worst during Sendong's onslaught in 2011, have also started evacuating their homes since the city is also on the typhoon's path.

The city is currently on green alert, which means officials are on standby for possible forced evacuation of residents. There are an estimated 15,000 families in the city who are vulnerable in case of flooding.

In 2011, at least 1,268 people, mostly in CDO and Iligan City, died due to Sendong's fury.